Device for opening envelopes

ABSTRACT

A generally rectangular block sized to beheld in the hands of a user is provided with an elongate guide slot through which the edge of an envelope is directed and a two-part rotatable cutting means journaled in the block has a cutting nip formed in the slot so that the edge of the envelope will be severed as it is moved relative to the block. One of the parts of the cutting means has a sharpened cutting edge and a somewhat enlarged knurled action surface which not only actively engages the adjoining surface of the envelope but also projects from one sidewall of the block to facilitate manipulation by the user.

United States Patent John S. Kettlstrings 216 N. Knollvrood Drive, Wheaten, Ill. 60189 [21] Appl. No. 809,220

[22] Filed Mar. 21, 1969 [45] Patented Aug. 10, 1971 [72) Inventor [54] DEVICE FOR OPENING ENVELOPES 2,647,313 8/1953 Ohlsson 30/265 2,656,889 10/1953 Kaplan 83/372 3,068,569 12/1962 Campbell, Jr. 30/294 3,153,853 10/1964 Lipton 30/294 Primary Examiner-Granville Y. Custer, Jr. Attorney-Hill, Sherman, Meroni, Gross & Simpson ABSTRACT: A generally rectangular block sized to beheld in the hands of a user is provided with an elongate guide slot through which the edge of an envelope is directed and a twopart rotatable cutting means journaled in the block has a cutting nip formed in the slot so that the edge of the envelope will be severed as it is moved relative to the block. One of the partsof the cutting means has a sharpened cutting edge and a somewhat enlarged knurled action surface which not only actively engages the adjoining surface of the envelope but also projects from one sidewall of the block 'to'facilitate manipulation by the user.

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This invention relates generally to a hand-manipulated envelope opener.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART There are currently available expensive andcomplicated motor-operated envelope-opening devices, however, there has been a longstanding need'for the provision of an extremely compact, hand-manipulated envelope opener which operates efficiently to sever the edge of a closed envelope neatly and without tearing mutilation thereof and which is extremely portable and can be used effectively in and around any area regularly occupied by the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention a generallyrectangular block sized to be held in the hands of a user is provided with an elongated guide slot in one face. thereof through which the edge ofa closed envelope may be directed in confined sliding relationship. A two-part rotatable cutting means is journaled in the block and forms a cutting nip in the slot so that the edge of the envelope will be severed as it is moved relative to the block. One of the parts has a sharp cutting edge formed by a reentrant inwardly tapered surface. That same one part has an outer periphery which is knurled to form an action surface engaging the adjoining envelope, thereby to facilitate simultaneous movement of the envelope androtation of the cutting means. The knurled action surface also projects outwardly of one of the sidewalls of the block, thereby to facilitate digital manipulation by the user during theintroduction of the envelope edge into the nip of the cutting means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the device for opening envelopes provided in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sideelevational view of the device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view-similar to FIG. 1 but showing the opposite side of the device. 7

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line lV-lV of FIG. 3 and. shows an envelope'in the device during a severing operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS.

The envelope opener of the present invention is shown generally at 10 and comprises a generally rectangular block shaped member having a face 11 and an opposite face 12 disposed in parallel relationship to one another. Between the opposite faces 11 and 12 there are provided sidewalls l3 and 14 which extend in parallel-spaced relationship to an elongate slot 16 formed in the face 12. The rectangular block member I block are appropriately chamfered, not only aesthetic reasons but also to avoid any sharp edges. The device is shown in somewhat enlarged scale in the drawings and in actual usage the exemplary form illustrated in the drawings is approximately l 1/2 inches wide, 3/4 inches thick and 3 3/8 inches long. Thus, the generally rectangular block is of a size which is readily held in the hands of a user and it will be appreciated that the sidewalls 13 and 14 form opposed gripping surfaces for the thumb and finger digits of the user during the manipulation thereof.

A two-part rotatable cutting means is journaled in the block, one of the parts being shown generally at 20 and the other being shown generally at 21.

Referring, first of all, to the part'20, it will be noted that there is a pin member 22 having a shaft portion 23 forming a bearing surface on the peripheral portions thereof. An enlarged head 24 has flat, radially extending parallel surfaces 26 and 27 so that the head 24 forms a stop for the operative part ofthe cutting means.

An enlarged rotatable disk member is provided at 28 and which disk member 28 is centrally apertured for bearing engagement with the bearing surface on the shaft portion 23. One radial wall of the disk 28 shown at 29 lies adjacent the adjoining radial wall 26 of the head 24.

The block member of the letter opener 10 is formed with a recess 30 which extends inwardly of the block in the face 12 in spaced relationship to the slot 16. The recess 30 is counterbored as at 31. Thus, the shaft portion 23 of the pin member 22 isreceived in press-fit relationship in the recess 30 while the disk member 28 and the head portion 24 are received in the counterbored portion of the recess as at 31.

Referring now to the other part of the cutting means, it will be noted that the part 21 also includes a pin member 32 having a shaft portion 33 forming a bearing surface on the peripheral portion thereof. The pin member 32 has an enlarged head portion 34 formed with flat radially extending parallel surfaces 36 and 37.

A disk member shown generally at 38 is centrally apertured for bearing engagement with the bearing surface on the shaft portion 33 of the pin member 32. Thus, a radial wall 39 on the disk member 38 lies adjacent the radial wall 36 of the head portion 34.

The block member of the envelope opener has a recess 40 which extends into the block from the face 11 and which is counterbored as at 41. Thus, the shaft portion 33 of the pin member 32 is press fit into the recess 40 and the disk member 38 and head portion 34 are received in the counterbored portion 41 of the recess.

Referring, further to the slot 16, it will be noted that the slot has a bottom wall and a first sidewall 51 which extends the entire length of the block so that the-slot 16 opens out of the opposite end walls 17 and 18.

A second sidewall 52 is provided for the slot 16 which is spaced from and parallel to the sidewall 51. In the area of the cutting means, the sidewall 52 is slightly recessed by a curved portion 53 forming, in effect, a wall of the counterbore 31. In

I other words, it will be noted that the recess 30 is located in the block so that the counterbored recess 31 is not only intersectedby the slot butslightly overlaps the width of the slot so that the disk 28 is effectively disposed with its outer peripheral wall 54 extending well into the confines of the slot 16.

With respect to the pin 32 and the recess 40, the spacing relationship with respect to the slot 16 is such that the disk 38 extends into the slot 16. Accordingly, the adjoining radial surfaces 56 and 57 of the disk members 28 and 38 are disposed in the slot 16 with both respective edges in overlapping adjacency to one another to form a cutting nip so that the edge of an envelope will be severed as it is moved through the slot relative to the block.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the disk member 38 is provided with specific structural and functional features. Thus, it will be noted that the radial wall 57 ofthe disk 38 extends outwardly to a sharpened edge 60 which is circumferentially continuous and is at a first diametral dimension. A tapered wall portion 61 extends radially inwardly and axially of the disk at a reentrant angle and terminates at a second radial wall 62 which extends radially outwardly and terminates in an outer peripheral surface disposed at a second diametral dimension which is greater than the diametral dimension of the sharpened edge 60. The outer surface at the larger dimension is knurled, thereby to form an action surface 63 which is adapted to engage an adjoining surface of the envelope. The spacing of the recess 40 and the dimensioning of the disk 38 is such that the knurled surface 63 on the disk 38 projects outwardly of the sidewall 13 into a position suitable for ready and convenient manipulation by the fingers or thumb of the user. By virtue of such provision, if there is any difficulty in admitting the edge of the closed envelope into the cutting nip, the disk 38 may be readily turned.

In operation, therefore, the edge of a closed envelope is slidingly confined and moved in a slot 16 whereupon the edge of the envelope is received in the nip of the cutting parts and is severed as shown at E in FIG. 4. The body of the envelope is shown at B.

Although minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. An envelope opener comprising a generally rectangular block sized to be held in the hands of a user and having an elongate guide slot formed in one face thereof and sized to receive the edge of a closed envelope in confined, sliding relationship,

said block having sidewalls spaced from said slot in generally parallel relation thereto and forming opposed grasping surfaces for the thumb and fingers of the user, and

a two-part rotatable cutting means journaled in said block and each having a circumferentially continuous cutting edge disposed in said slot with both of said respective edges in overlapping .adjacency to one another to form a cutting nip so that the edge of the envelope will be severed as it is moved relative to said block,

each of said parts of said two-part cutting means comprising a pin member having a shaft portion of reduced diameter forming a bearing surface,

an enlarged head having flat radially extending parallel surfaces and forming a stop, and

an enlarged rotatable disk member centrally apertured for bearing engagement with a corresponding one of said bearing surfaces,

said block having recesses formed therein extending inwardly from said one face and from a face oppositely parallel thereto for receiving each respective pin member in press-fit relation,

and each recess being counterbored to receive the head and disk member ofa corresponding pin,

said slot intersecting the counterbored portion of both of said recesses and the spacing relationship of said recesses being such as to place the disk members in nipforming alignment with respect to one another in said slot,

one of said disk members comprising a sharp cutting edge formed by a reentrant inwardly tapered surface and having a first outer diameter,

said tapered surface terminating in a radial wall extending outwardly to the outermost periphery of said one disk member and which outermost periphery is of a second outer diameter larger than said first outer diameter,

said outermost periphery of said one disk member being knurled to form an action surface engaging an adjoining envelope surface to facilitate simultaneous movement of the envelope and rotation of said one disk member.

2. An envelope opener as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said one disk member being disposed in said block so that said knurled action surface projects outwardly through an adjoining one of said sidewalls into a position for digital manipulation by the user. 

1. An envelope opener comprising a generally rectangular block sized to be held in the hands of a user and having an elongate guide slot formed in one face thereof and sized to receive the edge of a closed envelope in confined, sliding relationship, said block having sidewalls spaced from said slot in generally parallel relation thereto and forming opposed grasping surfaces for the thumb and fingers of the user, and a two-part rotatable cutting means journaled in said block and each having a circumferentially continuous cutting edge disposed in said slot with both of said respective edges in overlapping adjacency to one another to form a cutting nip so that the edge of the envelope will be severed as it is moved relative to said block, each of said parts of said two-part cutting means comprising a pin member having a shaft portion of reduced diameter forming a bearing surface, an enlarged head having flat radially extending parallel surfaces and forming a stop, and an enlarged rotatable disk member centrally apertured for bearing engagement with a corresponding one of said bearing surfaces, said block having recesses formed therein extending inwardly from said one face and from a face oppositely parallel thereto for receiving each respective pin member in press-fit relation, and each recess being counterbored to receive the head and disk member of a corresponding pin, said slot intersecting the counterbored portion of both of said recesses and the spacing relationship of said recesses being such as to place the disk members in nip-forming alignment with respect to one another in said slot, one of said disk members comprising a sharp cutting edge formed by a reentrant inwardly tapered surface and having a first outer diameter, said tapered surface terminating in a radial wall extending outwardly to the outermost periphery of said one disk member and which outermost periphery is of a second outer diameter larger than said first outer diameter, said outermost periphery of said one disk member being knurled to form an action surface engaging an adjoining envelope surface to facilitate simultaneous movement of the envelope and rotation of said one disk member.
 2. An envelope opener as defined in claim 1 and further cHaracterized by said one disk member being disposed in said block so that said knurled action surface projects outwardly through an adjoining one of said sidewalls into a position for digital manipulation by the user. 